Stoke Rochford Golf Club

Stoke Rochford is one of the most attractive and interesting courses in Lincolnshire by virtue of its interesting contours, four river holes over the Cringle Brook and immense history. It also boasts huge playability, except under the severest of weather conditions, and boasts a tremendous variety of flora and fauna. Indeed, a senior agronomist to the R&A, and for 10 years an adviser to the club, rated it amongst the top 10 on his books. Over the river from the 18th tee stands the magnificent Stoke Rochford Hall, built in 1846 and replacing the earlier houses of 1665 and 1774, and home until 1940 of the Turnor family. It is now a Conference Centre. In January 2005 the Hall was tragically engulfed by a serious fire which destroyed part of the building. Following essential emergency works, a programme of reconstruction and restoration was undertaken to restore the Hall to its former Grade I listed glory. Life for Stoke Rochford first began during the First World War when Christopher Turnor developed an interest in golf and set out a few basic tees and greens from the front of the Hall to where the clubhouse now stands. Two were over the lake. In 1923 a nine-hole course was set out and was first played on February 18, 1924. By the end of the year the Stoke Rochford Golf Club was formed and boasted 32 playing members paying an entrance fee of £1 and an annual subscription of two guineas. Turnor became the first Club President. There were, however, two problems. The present 16th fairway was also the village cricket pitch, so arrangements had to be made to ensure both games could carry on and, because of stock roaming around, all the greens had to be wired off with barbed wire. The former difficulty disappeared in 1929 when cricket there ceased, but the latter remained until 1979 when the Club was able to re-negotiate the lease of the course. It was in 1929 that WH Aitken, the Scottish international and member of the R&A set out a new layout for the course and in 1935 Major Hotchkin of Woodhall Spa fame designed a further nine holes taking the two in front of the hall out of use. Nearly eight decades on, and situated in delightful Lincolnshire parkland countryside, adjacent to the A1 and Grantham, Stoke Rochford remains a challenging course and very popular venue for society events and golfers of all standards and ages. Lying six miles south of Grantham and is accessed from the A1 Northbound, although the course is most beautiful throughout the summer and autumn months with its variety of flora and fauna, the course is renowned for its winter playability and rarely uses 'preferred lies'.

The short 17th, 'Crab Apple Tree' is perhaps the pick of the closing trio. At 192 yards it requires a solid shot, all the while enjoying a magnificent view of the newly-refurbished Stoke Rochford Hall.

It begins in stern fashion.Called 'Cottage Approach', the 1st is a 413-yard par 4 which is probably one of the toughest on the course… and in the county! The slope of the fairway will take most drives to the right leaving a difficult second to a raised and sloping green. It is always good to walk off here with a four - most members will accept a five gladly. Things don't get much easier on the 4th, Hibbert's Slab. At473 yards, it is classed as a par 5 on the course planner but on the scorecard it is a two shooter – and therefore stroke 1. A good drive to the right of the fairway bunker (one of only two on the course) will leave a demanding second shot into a green which slopes from the front and the right hand side. Two holes later comes 'Church View', which many feel is the club's signature. It is 421 yards and you must aim your tee shot at the church in the distance; anything missing the fairway can put you in trouble as there are trees left and right, coupled with tight rough blocking out a clear shot to this very difficult green. Even if you're on the fairway, the second shot can be one of the most demanding on the course and a lot will be down to luck and the bounce you get. The green is more receptive to a well-struck shot than most think. Once you get on the green, you've then to negotiate the slippery slopes. 'Keeper's Reach' is a good hole to start the back nine, a hard par 4 of 432 yards playing mostly into the wind. Very thick rough down the right side can be punishing and what used to be fairway down the left is now also rough. If the wind is behind, longer hitters can have as little as an eight or nine iron left to a large green but most people are hitting a long iron or a wood from around the first ridge in the fairway. You can have great fun at the 13th, 'Cringle Gap', which is a drivable par 4 of 272 yards off the backs. However, very thick rough either side of the fairway will penalise a wayward tee shot. A narrow gap between the trees can be intimidating – it's worth a look for the championship tee to demonstrate what you face is relatively easy! The green slopes again from back to front and often gives a putt that is difficult to read. The short 17th, 'Crab Apple Tree' is perhaps the pick of the closing trio. At 192 yards it requires a solid shot, all the while enjoying a magnificent view of the newly-refurbished Stoke Rochford Hall. Depending on the wind direction, this can be anything from a 6-iron to a wood, favouring the right side to avoid the new bunker. The ground slopes in from the right of the green often giving a slightly mis-directed shot a kick left onto the green. Like the 3rd hole, tight rough on the right of the green can leave a difficult up and down. As with so many others at Stoke, a large green that can leave you with a long putt if your tee shot does not find the pin.